Atomizer head



Dec. 19, 1944. I. .T. HOLIHAN ET AL ATOMIZER HEAD Filed Feb. 25, l942 II V g i ll m M wmwwn 0H N T R m m Va T mm A V Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STAT ATOMIZER H EAD" Irving Holihan and Walter H.:D av'is, i Waterbury, Conn. AppIication'FebruaryZS, 1942; Serial No 432,18 14 Claims. (01 29c;ss

or character of the discharge is not always satis factory. In accordance with the present invention a different and simpler form of valvemeans is employed and atomization takes place in such, a manner'as to produce a substantially uniform discharge containing a relatively large proportion of liquid.

The construction of devices embodying our inventicn may be varied but the preferred form thereof hereinafter described and shown in the drawing embodies a ball valve which normally tends to close the passage leading to theatomizing head from the container to which the device is applied. The head is provided with means for atomizin liquid in part at least prior to the hassage thereof to the discharge opening from which the charge is expelled. This construction is found to be simple and economical to produce and assemble and is alsovfound to. provide a substantially uniform discharge containing a relatively high proportion of liquid in. a finely atomized form.

' One of the objects of our invention isto provide a novel type of atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container and embodying a limited number of parts which are simple in construction and capable of being assembled readily.

.Another object of our invention is to provide an atomizer head with novel means for effecting the atomization of liquid. A further object of our invention is to provide an atomizer head with means for effectively atomizing a relatively large and uniform quantity of liquid.

These and other objects and features of our invention will "appear from the following descrip-' tion thereof'in which reference is made to the figures of the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through one preferred formof device embodying our invention,

' Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the construction shown in Fig. 1 with the parts thereof arranged in the order of their assembly. 7 p

That form of our invention illustrated in the drawing is particularly designed to be applied;

to bottles containing perfume, toilet water, shaving-loti'onor other toilet requisites, but it willbe understoodthat' atomizing heads embodying our invention may beused withany type of liquid andina be. applied to containers of any form andsecured thereto by any suitable or preferred means.

.As shown, the, atomizing head is provided with a retaining member 2 formedwitha lower attaching porti'on 4 threaded to engage complenienta'ry' threads; on the neck 8 of a bottle or other container; The upper wall portion [0 of the retaining me'mber'is' of larger diameter than the lower attaching portion and is'connected thereto by ajs'houlder l2. A washer l4 formed of cork composition or other sealing material is located withinthe'upper portion of the retaining member and bears against theshoulder l2 to form'a tight seal between the top of the container and the retaming member when the head is screwed onto a container. A stifi washer l6 islocated above the cork washer jl4ja'n'd seals the space between videdwitha centrally" located: valve seat memwasher and theatomizing elementswithin the head.".' The at'omizing element preferably include a cup shaped member. I 8 having a base 20, the lower face of which bears a ainst the still washer IS. The. sidewall 22. o'fthe cup. shaped'member is prcvide'dil'with an aperture 24 located adjacent a discharge opening 26. formed in the upper Wall portio'ni0-'of the retainingmember. The aperture 24'i'n'the cup shaped memberisaccurately alignedwith the discharge opening '26 by suitable means "such "as the" inwardly projecting rib 2a Dmmeretainmg member 'and the complementary'indentation30in the side wall 22 of the cup sha'ped member; I

"The base 20 of thecup shaped member is prober 32' inthe' form of a rivet having the head 34 thereoflocated'within the cup. A passage 35 extends; axially through "the" rivet and" is formed with'the upper portion thereof enlarged at 38 toform;.a valve receiving recess, shaped to present a valve seat, against which a ball 40 or other suitable form of valve member may bear. The lower end ofthe rivet or valve seat member extends below the cup shaped member 18' and is fcrrnedto receive arubber connector 42 or other means fo'r securing a glass tube or the like to the valve --seat"member--for' conducting liquid to the recess therein from the container.

Within the cup member I8 is located a plate 46 having the central portion thereof formed with a dome 48,- th'e inner surface or which i spaced a short distanlc'efffom theuppersurface of the roundedhead 34'of the rivet or va ve seat member 113 fla 1 1 2 15' b r ai i th; th u a d. m m e ii? is a qmiz n ha ber -comm unicat: ith the recess 38fi w hich "The lower surface ort lie marginal port ionic of the plate 46 rests upon the upper surface of the base 20 of the cup member l8 and is formed with a groove 52 extending from the atomizing chamber'beneath the dome 48 to the:ipe'i t'ure 24 in the side wall of the cup shaped member A second groove 54 is formed in the lower surface of the marginal portion 50 of the plate 46 and extends from a point in the atomizing chamber. diametrically opposite to groove 52 to an opening 56 which extends. through the. pIaLteTIIGS'TheI groove 54 is generally arcuate in form and-is-- usually longer than the grg ove 52, sinQe.. has been found in practice that forina'n'd length" of groove adds to the effectiveness of thede'vie."

The opening 56 in th marginal portion of the plate 46 communicateswith the air space 58 within a compressible device such as therubber bulb 60. The marginal portion of thebulb is loc'ated adjacent the wall 22 of the cup shapedirnember l8 and bears against an annular washer 64' on L the upper surface of the plate 46. The upper edge of the wall portion IU of the'retaining rriem her 2 is turned inwardly 'at 66 over a bead 68 formed on the periphery of therubber'bulb and serves to hold the'rubber bulb in place,'th ereby retaining the cup shaped member I8; plat 46 and the washers in place wlthin'tl ie retaining member.

In order to admit an to the" container prevent the formation of a vacuum therein w hen liquid is drawn from the container the cup shaped member I8 is formedw'ith agroove' min the lower surface of the base 20 thereof. The outer'nd of the groove preferably extends upwiard as' shown at 12 in Fig. 3 on the outer'surfa'ce of tne'side wall of the cup whereas'the inner'end of the groove 10 extends to a 'point near thejcentrally located valve receiving member so as to communi cate with the interior of thebottle or recepta;cle to which the atomizing headisattachedf this way air may pass" to the interior of thereceptacle upon removal ofliquid from the receptacle; The stifi' Washer 16, which is located adjacentthe of the cup serves to prevent the softer borkwasher l 4 from being pressed into the groovellllorhloclging the same when the 'head is screwed firrnlye in place on a container. f

The wall portionlll of the retainingn ember is formed with a projection "adjibehttheout; let opening 26 therein so that afspaee is formed between the retaining member and" the' cup 0 shaped member. The outerien d 12lo f thej'vent groove communicates with this space so mav n may pass readily into the recptacle through' the vent passage. 'Ihefspa'c'ethusforinetljalso serves as a trap to receiveiand retainanylargedrqplets 55 of liquid that may be expelled through the aper; ture 24 in the cup shaped'ineinberiand'appars to aid in producing a uniform and'satisfactoryd isf charge from the device. i

The operation of the construction descyibed is as follows:

When the rubber bulb 6B is compressed air is forced from the air space therein th ough the opening 56in the plate 46 andthrough the arcuate groov 54 to the atomizing chambenbeneath the dome 48 andabout-the head 3 4 of the rivet 32 and thence through the g rooye 5 2 ;and the ape r 24 n as ward-m mb r. s to be expelled h htb .dihe ra...q1 e s in the wall ort flp t eami i siniembeiq 70 Upon release 'ofhe rubber bulbitexpand due wits rit e iliencr dra n a ere to thebulb through the same path. Th 11 of air to the bulb producesa; paiitialjvacuum ithe;

ia tess cte ie rae i s ibeh'el lithe] -to-tl'iopening 56 and the air space in the bulb. 'I 'hereafter when thebulb is compressed a second be raised from its seat and liquid is thus drawn the -ato nizing chamber by the capillary action of these'surfaces. However, a portion of the liquid maybedrawn into the arcuate groove 54 leading timeair is forced from the air space within the bullocthrough the arcuate groove 54 to the atomizing charnber. 'I'hearcuate form of the groove 54 is believed to add to the turbulence of the air inenteringthe atomizing chamberand also agitates and mixes the air with any liquid that has been drawn into the groove 54.

In passing through the atomizing chamber it is thoughtthat most of the air passes about the marginalportion of-the head 38 of the rivet and adjacentthe edge of-the dome 48 in the plate where the cross sectional areais greatest due to the slightlyroundedlower edge of the dome. The streams of air flow in opposite directions from the grppve 5 4 and at high velocity past the edg'es of theffilmofliquid retained between the upper surface oi the head 38 of the rivet and the lower inner surface of the dome. In flowing past the edgfes of this filmof liquid the air picks up the liquid and causing it to be atomized and dispersed in the air and carriedwith it through the groove 52 fro m theatomizing chamber to the aperture 24;

Asshownin Fig. 2 the aperture 24 is srnaller in cross section than thegroove 52 so that aback pressure an d 'furth er turbulence is produced as th'e'iair andliquid carried from the atomizing cl ainbe'r, through the groove 52 are further broken up in this manner so that the charge expelled fronri the aperture and through the dis cQ arg e openin gin the retaining member is efiec ive a m z i- In order to center the aperture 24 accurately with respect-to the groove52 and thusinsure consistent and effective atomization of the liquid, thecup shaped member I8 is provided with two inwardly extending indexing ribs orindentations fol-{positioning the plate 46. One of these indentations is shownto be the indentation 36 whieh cooperates with therib 28 on the retaining mem her r rati n he cup h e mem t respect thereto, whereas the second indentatien is shown at 15. The plate 46 is'forrn ed with a notc'h 16 in the edgevthereof; for registry. withindenta tion 'ilfl' and a 'second jnotch l8 'which receives the indentation 15, Theuse of twoindexir'igQorpg sitiomng notches is found to be most efietivein registering theouter extremity of the groove 52 in centered'relation with the apertnre 24 in-the side wall of the cup shapedm ernber. Thesliight unavoidable play or inaccuracy in the shaper and position of thenotches "l6 and 18in the plate and in the-location of the indentations 3t} and 15 resulting fromrnachine operations are thus oflset so that only the'miniinum displacementof; h nd fih r v ith esreqtt the p r u results.

The ball valve 40 within the valve seat rnernber-operates in the manner of th e usual; ball valve to normally Seal the rst?@n zp z h qnassas it. h 'p j hii l i ll .flQ nt t fir...at m .ns l eei e f We??? enus:- lilpl strangeness:

h e p lv-z elessk mm its-seat closes the passage so that evaporation of theliquid in the container willnot occur. r. f

While we have shown and described a preferred form of our invention in order to indicate. the nature thereof and have described the operation ash; is believed to take place, it will bev understood that the form, construction and arrangement of .the elements employed may be varied considerably without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention and wedo'not wish to be restricted to any particular theory of opera-' tion. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiment vof'our invention herein shown and described is not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. v

- We claim:

1. In an atomizer'head adapted to be applied to a container, a cup shaped member, means for conducting liquid to said member, a plate having a surface,,thereof spaced from said member and cooperating therewith to maintain a film of liquid within said cup shaped member and between said member and plate, means forming channels communicating with the space between said plate and member at diametrically opposite points, said cup shaped member having'an aperture in the side wall thereof with which one of said channels communicates, and a compressible bulb having an air space therein communicating with the other channel for forcing air through said space and for expelling airand liquid through the other channel and from said aperture.

2. In an atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container, a cup shaped member having a recess therein, means for conducting liquid from said container to the recess in said cup shaped member, a valve member located in said recess, a plate having a surface thereof which surrounds said valve member and is spaced a relatively short distance from that portion of the inner surface of the cup shaped member which surrounds said recess to retain liquid in the form of a film between said plate and member, a compressible bulb having anair space therein, means forming an air channel extending from said air space to the interior of said cup-shaped member for admit ting air to the space between said plate and member on compression of said bulb and for drawing liquid into said recess and past said valve member on expansion of saidbulb, and means forming an outlet channel communicating with the space between the plate'and cup shaped member at a point spaced from the air channel for conducting air and liquid from said space, said cup shaped member having anaperture therein through which air and liquid from the outlet channel may be expelled. v V

3, In an atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container, a cup shaped member, means for conducting liquid to said member, valve means controlling the flow of liquid through said conducting means, a plate having a surface thereof which surrounds said valve means and is spaced from-said member and cooperates therewith to maintain a film of liquid within said cup shaped member and between said member and plate, means'forming channels communicating with the space between said; plate and member at diametrically opposite points, said cup shaped member'having an aperture in the side wall thereof withwhich one of said channels communicates, and a compressible bulb having an air space therein communicating with the other channel for forcing air through said space and for expelling air and liquid from said aperture on compressioniof said bulb and for drawing liquid into said space? and'past said valve means on expansion of said bulbs, the channel which communicates' with said bulb being arcuate in shape and substantially longer than the oppositely located channel to agitate the air passing to the space between said plate and member.

4; In an atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container, a cup shaped member, means for conducting liquid. to said member, a plate. having a surface thereof spaced from said member and cooperating therewith to maintain a film of liquid within said cup shaped member and between said member and plate, means'forming channels commu'nicat'ing with'the' space between said plate and members at diametrically opposite points, said cup shaped member having an aperture in the side wall thereof with which one of said channels communicates, and a compressible bulb having an air spacetherein communicating with the other channel for forcing air through said space and for expelling air and liquid from said aperture, the channel which communicates with said bulb being longerv than, the other channel and curved in shape to agitate air passing to the space between the plate and member.

5. An atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and having acup shaped member with side walls provided with an aperture therein, the bottom of said cup shaped member presenting a rounded upper surface, a plate located within said cup shaped member and presenting a similarly rounded lower surface spaced a relatively short distance from that of the cup shaped member, means for conducting liquid from the containerto'which the head is applied to the space between said rounded surfaces, a compressible bulb, means forming a channel-extending from said bulb to the space betweensaid rounded'surfaces to supply air thereto, and means forming a channel extending from the space between said surfaces to the aperture in the side wall of the cup for conducting air and liquid from said spaceto'said aperture; l 5.6: An atomizing head adapted to be applied to a container and having a cup -shaped member with side walls provided with an aperture therein; the bottom of said cup shaped member presenting a rounded upper surface, a plate located within said cup shaped member and presenting a similarly rounded lower surfacespaced a rela tively short distance from that of the cup shaped member, means for conducting liquid from the container to which the head is applied to the space between said rounded surfaces, a compressible bulb,'means'forming a channel extending from said bulb to the space between said rounded surfaces tosupply air thereto, andgmeans forminga channel "extending from the spacebetween said surfaces to the aperture in the sidewall of the cup for conducting air and liquid from said space to said aperture, said channels communi cating with the space between said rounded sur faces at diametrically opposite points.

'1. An atomizer head adapted to be applied to a container and having a cup shaped member having the side wall thereof provided with an aperture, the bottom' of said cup shaped member presenting a rounded upper surface, a plate located within said cup shaped member and presenting a similarly rounded lower surface spaced a relatively short distance'from that of the cup shaped member, the marginal portion of said plate engaging the cup shaped member to define an atomizing chamber, means for conducting liquid from-the container torwhiclnthe :liead: israpplied' to said chamber;- and; toqthe aspacczbetween said rounded surfaces to form a: fillIIzOffliQHifilthfiIE between, a. compressiblerlbulb,imeans forming::a channel extending from; saidi'bulb;toxsaidrchame ber' at a point adjacent?one.:edgetofthe:spacezhee tween said rounded surfaces: tmsupply airttherezto, and means forming azchanneleXtending: from a point in o said chamber.- adjacentrthe: opposite edge of the space between:said:surfaces;to: the aperture in the side wall: of; the;c.up-;for:conducte ing airand liquidr:fromasaid chamberi'to; said aperture.

- 8. ,An atomizer he act adaptedatobaapplieditoza container and having aycuprshaped; membenh'aw ing'the side wallthereof providedwith anaperrture, means located adjacentthesbottom' of said cup shaped member and; presentingnan: upwardly facing rounded surfaceiwith a-recessiinithercene ter thereof, a plate located within said cup shaped member and presenting: a, downwardly facing rounded-surface spaced arelatively fShOIt distance from the upper surface of said, meansande'extending over said recess; means for. conducting liquid from the container'towhichthe;headis applied to said recess:aivalveimember located-in said recess for controllingthe flow otliquidithereto, a compressible bulb, means?formingaachamiel extending from said bulb, to: the space:;between said rounded surfacesitozsupply air-thereto, and means forming a channel: extending: from. the space between said surfaces-to the aperture: in the side wall of the cup for conducting; airand liquid from said space to'lsaid aperture;

9. An atomizing headadapted tozbeappliedztq a container, comprising membersz -presenting spaced surfaces which are sufficiently close :-to each other to retain a film: of liquid-:there-bee tween and cooperating to form an atomizing chamber, means for conducting liquid toisaid chamber, compressiblermeans having -an:airtspace therein, means formingan air channel'that is curved throughout the major portiorr of;its length to increase the turbulence- 01; airpassing:there through and leading 'fromssaidzairzspacezto said i 4 atomizing chamber and communicatingzwithasaid chamber atone side .thereof; meansformingran outlet channel communicatingwithsaid chamber at the opposite side: thereofforrconddcting. air and liquid from said chamber; and means having an aperture therein through'whichuair and liquid'irompthe outlet :channel iare:proje.cted when said compressible meanstis; depressed, the cross-sectional area of said aperture: beingless than that oflthe outlet-channel whereby-atomizae tion of the liquid takesplaceion..passage:thereof through said aperture.

10. In an atomizing. head'adaptedto besap plied to 'a container; means forming an atomizing chamber, means formed with an upwardly fac'ing recess therein surrounded by said atomizing chamber, means 'for conducting' liquidito said: ree cess, a compressible-device;having:an;air?space therein communicatingzwithisaidichamberratrone side of said recess, and meansiorminga channel communicating with said::chamber;:atlthe1oppo;v site side of said recessfor:conductingr-airrand liquid from said chamberwhereby airrisicaused to flow through said chamber:in a.;direction:to'

entrain liquid in said recess;,andpromotezatomi zation thereof.

11. In ,an: atomizingheaflladapted tor beans plied to a container; meansrformingrana-atomizing,

chamber; meansiutmed; with ansupwardlygiacei g?dome=sha;ied1rsurace liaving: arcentrallyrloe cated recess thereimsurroundedcby'saizratomizing chamber;- meanszforrconductingc liquid to said recess,. arcompressible device having an: air space therein: communicating withsaid. chamber atone sineofi saidirecess,meansforming: a channel com municatingwith: said :.chamber atrthe. opposite sider-of said; recesss'ior'conducting: air and liquid from: said chamber: whereby: air: is. caused to: flow through: said chamber in; a; direction to entrain liquid; insaid, recess and promote atomization thereof; and'cazballvalve located insaidrecess and responsive; tothepressure'of air in said chamber for, controllingthapassage of: liquid .to saidirecess.

12. In an atomizing head adaptedltobe applied to a container comprising memberscooperating to form can atomizing". chamber withxparallel surfaceszspacedqapartzto retain'ra: film of: liquid there between: and surrounding-an upwardlyrfacing recess; meanszf'oit conductingiliquid to said. recess from'thepcontainer', meansforvarying the pressure ofair: in; said chamber, gravity actuated valve means-located insaid recess and responsive to. the-:pressurexof air insaid chamber for preventingzthefiow ofliquidiromsaid recessto the container whilegpermitting the flow of liquidto therecesswhenthe pressure-of air in the chambei'risreduced, meansvforming a channel communicating; with said chamber through which air-rand; liquid. may be expelledfrom said chamber; one: of. said. members having an atomizing aperture therein with whichsaid channel communicates, andocooperating, means on said membersfor..maintainingsaidchannel and-aperture in registry.-v

13-. Ingan atomizinghead adapted: to be applied tozacontainer,,membersvforming a chamber presenting closely spaced substantially parallel surfacesiadapted to retain .a film, of liquid therebetween; means for conducting liquid to said chamberto ,form a film therein, .valve .means 10 catedjadjacent said parallel surfaces. and surrounded by saidchamber for-controlling the flow obliquid ton said chamber, a compressibleelement havingan airspace therein communicating with said-rchamberior forcing air over saidsurfaces adjacentsaid. film of liquid ,toentrain said liquid, andimeans, extending about said members'and provided with an aperture through'which air and entrainedliquidmay be expelled from said chain her, said compressible element being :expandable to.draw liquid fromsaid container pastsaid valve meansand into saidchamber.

1-.4, ,In anzatomizing head adapted to. be applied to a container a, cup shapedmember, a plate like memberlocated within the cup shaped member and cooperating therewithtoformran atomizing chamberhaving a domeeshaped portion with an upwardly facing recess which is centrally located with respect t-o-the atomizing chamber, means for conducting; liquidto said recess,*;& valve member located in saidrecessior controlling the flow of liquidgthereto, ,air .supply means communicating with said; chamber; adjacent one side thereof, and means-{forming antoutlet channel communicating withsaid chamber at-apointtherein opposite to that with-.whichsaid air supply means communicate, whereby, air passing :through said chamber from-saidair. supply meansto said outlet channeltflowsiabouti or across-said recess to entrain liquid tcontaineditherein and promote atomization thereof.-

IRVING 1T. HOLIHAN.

WALTER. H. DAV-IS. 

